Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG21338’

ABSTRACT

A new  Dianthus  plant designated ‘KLEDG21338’ particularly distinguished by single dark pink flowers having red centers and red macules and an upright habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus gratianopolitanus Vill.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDG21338’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Community Plant Variety Rights Application File No. 2021/1683, filed on Jun. 22, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus gratianopolitanus Vill., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDG21338’. ‘KLEDG21338’ originated from an open-pollination of the proprietary female Dianthus plant ‘DSS-2011-0087’ (unpatented) with an un-named and unknown male parent in June 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany and in June 2016, ‘KLEDG21338’ was selected from a population of plants grown from the seed of the original open-pollination.

In August 2016, ‘KLEDG21338’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy. ‘KLEDG21338’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Latina, Italy and Stuttgart, Germany via vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘KLEDG21338’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Single dark pink flowers with red centers and red macules;         and     -   2. An upright plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a 13-week-old plant taken in March 2019 and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is a whole plant photo of ‘KLEDG21338’ and shows the foliage, buds, and flowers.

DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDG21338’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in March 2022 from plants that were 6-months-old and grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Botanical.—Dianthus gratianopolitanus Vill.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDG21338’.         -   Type.—Pot carnation. -   Parentage: Female parent ‘DSS-2011-0087’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative stem cuttings, terminal             cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—10 to 14 days.         -   Root description.—Fine; young roots are RHS 161D             (Greyed-Yellow) and mature roots are RHS 199C (Grey-Brown).         -   Rooting habit shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Plant form.—Upright.         -   Plant height.—11.0 cm to 13.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—16.0 cm to 18.0 cm.         -   Hardiness.—Winter-hardy in Germany. -   Lateral branches/stems:     -   -   Shape of the branch in cross-section.—Circular.         -   Hollowness of the branch.—Absent.         -   Length.—5.0 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Internode quantity per branch.—3 to 4.         -   Node length.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 146B (Yellow-Green).         -   Flower clustering on the lateral branch.—None. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Cross-section of the leaf.—Moderately concave.         -   Glaucosity of the leaf.—Weak.         -   Leaf color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: RHS             138B (Green) for immature and RHS 138A (Green) for mature.             Lower surface: RHS 138B (Green) for immature and RHS 138A             (Green) for mature.         -   Venation pattern.—Absent. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type.—Single flowers with sprays; 1 to 2 flowers per             spray.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Position of the flowers compared to the foliage of the             plant.—Same level.         -   Profile of both the upper and lower part in the lateral             view.—Upper is flat and lower is convex.         -   Diameter of flower.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to Autumn.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—14 to 18 days. -   Buds:     -   -   Length.—1.0 cm to 1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—RHS 187A (Greyed-Purple) and RHS 147B (Yellow-Green).         -   Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage.—Absent. -   Corolla:     -   -   Quantity of petals and arrangement.—5 and arranged in one             whorl.         -   Corolla height.—0.8 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Petal length.—2.3 cm to 2.8 cm.         -   Petal width.—0.7 cm to 1.0.         -   Petal shape.—Spoon-shaped.         -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.         -   Petal base.—Acute.         -   Petal margin.—Serrated.         -   Depth of petal margin.—Shallow.         -   Petal texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Petal color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 53B with RHS 46A             centers. Lower surface: RHS 53C. Mature: Upper surface: RHS             53B with RHS 46A centers and RHS 46A (Red) macules being 0.2             cm to 0.3 cm in width; 1 macule per petal. Lower surface:             RHS 53C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals: Composed of 5 sepals.             Longitudinal axis of the lobes of the calyx: Straight.             Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Calyx             diameter (at the apex): 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm. Sepal texture             (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal color: Upper             surface: RHS 189A (Greyed-Green). Lower surface: RHS 191B             (Greyed-Green).         -   Position of the outer lobes of the epicalyx in relation to             the calyx.—Adpressed and free.         -   Apex shape of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—Acute.         -   Tip length of the outer lobes of the epicalyx.—0.2 cm.         -   Apex shape of the inner lobes of the epicalyx.—Acute.         -   Tip length of the inner lobes of the epicalyx.—0.2 cm. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—4.0 cm to 6.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 147B (Yellow-Green). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Low (less than two). Filament             length: 0.3 cm. Filament color: RHS 8D (Yellow). Anther             length: 0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS             18C (Yellow-Orange). Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color:             RHS 65D.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 2. Length: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm.             Diameter: 0.05 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 61A (Red-Purple).             Shape: Curved. Length: 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm.             Style: Color: RHS 155C (White). Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter:             0.05 cm. Ovary: Color: RHS 145C (Yellow-Green). Width:             0.2 cm. Length: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Shape: Oblong. -   Fruit and seed set: Observed but no information is available. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDG21338’ WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDG21338’ is distinguished from the female parent as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Female Parent Characteristic ‘KLEDG21338’ ‘DSS-2011-0087’ Flower color Dark pink with Red red centers and red macules

‘KLEDG21338’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety ‘KLEDG14178’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,905). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDG21338’ ‘KLEDG14178’ Number of flowers 1 to 2 3 to 4 per spray Plant height 11.0 cm to 13.0 cm 10.0 cm Position of the flowers compared to Same level Slightly above the the foliage of the foliage plant 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDG21338’ as illustrated and described herein. 